Conveying means



July 10, 1945.

L. S. HARBER CONVEYING MEANS Filed May 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l l l l l l l i l veof D Hambef CONVEYING MEANS Filed May 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Eb LT.,

'lin/UelbZ'JZ17 v @Hamber July 10, 1945.

L. s. HARBER CONVEYING MEANS Fil'ed May 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fluyen/tor July l0, 1945.

L. s. HARBER CONVEYING MEANS Filed May 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 July l10, 1945. L, s, HARBER CONVEYING MEANS Filed May 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnvezzifof Hai ber July 10, 1945- v l.. s. vHARIBER 2,380,172

CONVEYING MEANS Filed May 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l I I I l I I I l I l I I I Patented Julyy 10, 1945 UNITED STATESIPATENT. OFFICE y CONVEYING IIWEAN S Laurence Seymour Harber, Peterborough, England, assgnor to Baker Perkins Limited, Peterborough, England Application May 25, 1942, Serial No. 444,420 In Great Britain June 11, 1941 1 Claim.

or where one attendant has to feed Vessels for s .filling to a machine while another receives the iilled vessels and passes such elsewhere for another cr further operation or treatment. For example, in the baking trade, for making tin bread, an attendant standing at a feeding station has to take empty baking tins from a rack and place such ,on a conveyor, which carries the tins to a dough-lling station, after which the lled tins are passed on to a discharge station, at which anotherattendant stands to remove the tins from the conveyor and place them in a prover or into racks for transfer to a prover.

An aim of the present invention is to provide improved means whereby a single attendant may do the Work of the two attendants referred to in the preceding paragraph. It will be appreciated that the improved mode of operation involves the use of conveying means, and hence an object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyor (such as an endless chain or band) and a device operating in association therewith adapted to enable one attendant to do the Work of two.

According to the invention chain or band conveying means are provided which are adapted to convey goods, articles ortins (hereinafter called tins), rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction by the Iaid of a transfer device, adapted to transfer the tins from the end or other part of one conveyor to the end or part of the other (or oppositely moving) conveyor.

on to the platform), the arrangement being such that' thevr'weight of the tin (or tins) upon the platform overcomes the bias of the plate and causes it to assume a downwardly inclined posin s tion so that the tin (or tins) slide therefrom on to the lower conveyor.

The plate or platform may7 be counterbalanced by a weight or by spring means and the catch'may be carried on the end of the platform adapted to engage a fixed member upon the frame of the machine; or the catch means may be mounted upon the frame and adapted releasably to engage the rear end of the platform.

` The invention also consists in conveyor means comprising a pair of chain or band conveyors arranged side by side, and transfer means comprising a rotary table located at one `end of the conveyors to receive tins from one conveyor and transfer them to the other conveyor.

Thev inventionalso consists in conveyor means arranged side by side, and transfer means adapted to move the tins in a transverse direction from one conveyor on to the other conveyor.

In the accompanying drawings- Figures 1 and 2 together form an elevation diagrammatically illustrating the invention as applied to the feeding of baking tins to a prover,

Figures 3 and 4 together form a corresponding plan,V

Figure 5 is an elevation of a modified form of the invention,

A chain or band conveyor may be superposed f over a second chain or band conveyor, and transfer means in the form of a tilting platform or table locatedat one end of the conveyors and adapted to be operated by the weight of the tin (or tins) `received from the upper conveying means to alter the inclination of the platform so that the tins slide on to the lower conveying means. n A feature of the invention lies in a tilting platform comprising a plate or like member pivoted on a horizontal axis and biased to incline upwardly towards the upper conveyor, in which position it isheld by `catch means releasable by a tin (when such has slid from the upper conveyor Figure 6 is a. corresponding plan, Y

Figure 7 is an end elevation of a further form of the invention,

Figure 8 being a side view correspondingtherey In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode as applied to the feeding of empty baking tins (in groups strapped together) from a position adjacent a prover (into which filled tins have to be deposited) to amachine or mechanism adapted to fill th'e tins with dough; two endless chain conveyors lll and I I (Figures 1-4) are mounted in superimposition in a framework so that the upper one I0 is arranged at a suitable operative height to carry baking tins l2 under a filling mechanism for depositing dough in the tins. veyor lll is adapted to travel in one direction, say from right to left, and the upper lap of the second or lower conveyor His adapted to travel'in the opposite direction, i. e., from left to right, so that tins l2 that are passed outward on the upper conveyor Ill and are transferred to the lower non The upper lap of this conveyor I I return to the initial or starting position or station.

Adjacent the prover I3 into which filled tins will be charged from the lower conveyor II a stand or trolley rack I4 is positioned, on which empty tins |2 are arranged or stacked. Any attendant is posted at the prover end of' the conveyors and his duty is to place the empty tins I2 upon the upper chain conveyor I0 and to take the filled tins from the lower conveyor andi place them in the prover I3. Towards the end of the upper conveyor I remote from the prover mechanical means represented by the chute I5 are provided for charging each tin with itsv required complement of dough.

After the tins have been filled they pass on and leave the upper conveyor I0 and travel on to a transfer device.

This transfer device comprises a platform or plate I6 which is pivoted towards its rear end on. a horizontal pivot |1 arranged in a plane substantially half-way between the upper laps of the conveyors. The platform I6 overhangsthe pivoted'axis I1 at the rear and isprovided with an edge or plate adapted to engage with a catch, asY will be referred to hereinafter.

In rear of the pivot I1 a balance weight I'Ba or spring is provided which normally tends t0,y hold i the plate or vplatform I6 tilted so that its edge 6b lies; adjacent the end of the path of the upper lap of the upper conveyor I0. The balance weight |6a or spring is so chosen that the reception of a tin (or aV predetermined number of tins) upon thefplatform from the upper conveyor Ill` will overcome theI action of the weight Id or spring and cause the platform totilt downwardly in .a reverse direction as soon as the catch holding it in the upwardly inclined position is released.

The platform I6 is provided with rubber buffers I8 located on either side of a slot. I6c.

Thel buffers are adapted to take the shock of the tins sliding down the platform andr arrest the movement of the tins.

Adjacentthe rear of theplatform and operatingV in the slot I 6c therein is a pivoted catch |9 of bell-crank lever form, the lower arm ZIJ of which is weighted to cause the other end I9 to protrude through the slot. This end I9 of the lever has a detent 2| for engaging a striking plate 22 on the underside of theV platform.V Above the detent the leverl has a shaped end or nose which is adapted to be engaged lby the forward end of a group of tins as it slides down the platform I 6- so as to cause the detent 2| to be released from fthe striking plate 22 and the platform to be depressed or overbalanced by the weight of the tins. As the platform I6 returns towards its upper or initial position as shown in full lines (when the .tinshave `passed from it) the nose of the catch |9 (which may be of cam-like form) is contacted to cause the detent 2| to bey re-engaged with the striking plate 22. Rubber buffers 23 are provided adjacent the catch |9 to absorb any shock of the platform as the latter returns -after the tins have slid on to the lower conveyor A rubber buffer 25- is provided to absorb any shockcaused when the platform tilts under the weightv of the tins.

Adjustment of the catch |9 relatively to the striking plate may be effected by-an adjustable bolti 24' engaging the weight arm 20` of the bell crank.

The upper conveyor I0 is adapted to feed. the tins under .the dough-feeding position or chute period long enough to enable the tin to be charged,

while; themoving conveyor surface or chains slides beneaththe tin. This stop 26 is removed as soon as theltin has been filled and reintroduced immediately the lled tin has passed so that the front of ther next following rtin is engaged and '4 the group is again arrested, while the second tin of the group is filled, and so on.

The tin stop 26y may be in the form of a bentup or erect portion on the end of a lever 21, the other. end of which is pivoted to a displaceable piece ror pivoted arm 28 so that the position of the stop. may be varied longitudinally of the conveyor by adjusting its pivotal connection. The arm 26, is carried by the shaft l29 to which an adjusting lever 30 is secured so that the adjustment of the stop 26 may be effected. The stop 26 is normally urged upwardly against a limiting member by means of leaf or other springs 3| bearing upon projections or cross pieces 32 on the lever. The inner part of this projection or cross piece 32 0n the lever 21 is engaged by a pivoted lever 33mounted on an oscillable shaft 34 operated by any convenient mechanism to retract the stop 26,A for example a rotary cam or -a tooth on a wheel may be adapted to. engage a roller on the end of an arm on the shaft 34 of the projection-engaging lever 33 and retract the stop 26 in` synchronism with the operation of :the means for depositing .the dough into the tins or with the operations of turning of the prover associated with the dividing and proving of the dough prior to. placing in the tins. The retraction of the stop 26 allows the advance of the tin I2 and as :the stopreturns (under spring pressure) it is, held out of position by thebottom of the tin. As the tin slides beyond the stop 26, the latter is reintroduced in the tin path and is engaged by the next tin.

lilach` conveyor may comprise a pair of chains 35 the runs of which are supported by plates or guides 36, 31, the links of the chains forming smooth, fiat surfaces over which the tins can slide. The plate 3.6 of the upper conveyor I0 is provided with an opening 38 through which the tin stop means projects. Side guides or fences 4| are provided on the plate 36. At the turning points adjacent the transfer device each conveyor chainsprocket wheel 39 is provided on one or both sides. with a. disc or roller 40 (covered with leather,` rubber, brous friction material or the like), the radius of which is such that the periphery is abovethe chain surface at the turning point.. They discs or rollers 40 control lthe tins I2 as. they pass from the conveyor l0 to the tilting platform. I 6,. and in the case of the lower conveyor |I take the shock of the tins as they slide from the downwardly tilted platform and aid in easing the tins on to the lower conveyor surface.

The conveyors I0 and II are driven by chain drives 42,Y 43 from any convenient part of the apparatus to which the invention is applied such as the prover drive or the dough feeding mechanism.

The platform I6 operates between side plates 44 which ensure the correct placing 'of the tins on the platform and transference therefrom to the lower conveyor Il.

In operation, after the group of they tins l2 has been filled it is passed on by the conveyor IU sothat the forward endengages the rollers 4t and rides out over the turning point of the conveyor. As the group passes over the half-way position vit overbalances and slides on to the upwardly tilted transfer platform I6, down which the group slides being assisted by the drive of the leather-covered discs or rollers 40. The group of tins slide down the platform l 6 until the foremost tin strikes the catch I9 and releases it from the striking plate 22 being brought to rest by the buffers I8. Immediately this happens the platform, owing to the preponderance of weight on the forward side of its pivot I1 due to the presence of the charged tins, tilts downwardly so that its end. lies adjacent the leather-covered discs or rollers (it at the turning point of the lower conveyor I l. 'As soon as the platform I6 assumes the downward tilt the group of tins commences to slide off it, and the forward tin meeting the leather-covered discs or rollers lll is fed forward on to the upper lap of the lower conveyor, As the conveyor surface H causes the tins to travel and the heel of the last tin passes from the platform i6, the counterweight Ita or spring of the platform. returns it to the upwardlyinclined or initial position, causing the catch or detent 2l to be rei-engaged with the striking plate 22 so that the platform is' held in the inclined `position ready to receive the next group of tins from conveyor l0. t y

It will be appreciated that theY length of the platform lliY and position of the catch lil are den vised to accord with the length of a groupof tins. Where it is desired that the platform should operate in conjunction with one or two tins only, or where the weight of thevtins and position in respect to the pivot and catch should be such that there would be no preponderance of weight on the near side of the pivot of the platform which would cause it to be overbalanced and assume the downwardly tilting position, an adaptor plate or member may be provided to intervenebetween the end of the catch and the front of the tin in a position suitable (by reason of the leverage) for causing the overbalancing effect. The adaptor plate operates in the` sense of an advanced stop so that when a single tin, or the leading tin of a pair, strikes the plate it will slide or move backwardly and cause the catch to be released and then be arrested by the rubber buffers i8. The adaptor may comprise a plate sliding on the platform It and having upturned ends, one to lie in the path of the tins and the other to engage the catch I9 and buffers I8. A light spring may be employed to return the adaptor to its initial or set position or such resetting may beeffected by and when the catch I9 is reset.

The filled tins, after being received from the tilting platform I6. by the upper lap of the lower conveyor Il, travel towards the station or position from which thei7 started and the attendant now removes the lled tins from the lower conveyor ll and places them in the prover i3. Thus a single attendant serves to do the work of the two usually employed respectively for feeding and unloading the conveying means.

It will be appreciated that the empty tins may be taken from the prover, filled, and returned to the prover by the apparatus described.

While the invention has been described with parallel horizontal planes but are not in superimposition, in whichfoase ythe transfer means may be in the form of a switch device pivoted on a vertical pivot, or a rotary turntable device adapted to carry the tins from the end of the feeding conveyor to the end of the return conveyor.

Thus, referring to Figures 5 and 6 the emptyv tin conveyor and full tin conveyor comprising chains 46 and 41 are placed side ,by side in the same horizontal plane.

Adjacent the transfer ends of the conveyors a rotary table 48 is provided which is secured to a central shaft 49 and is driven by the bevel gears 5l), 5l from a driving shaft 52. The rotary table is supported at its periphery by rollers 53 carried by arms 54.

The upper surface of the rotary table 48 is located in the plane of the supporting surfaces of the chain conveyors or it may be slightly higher and such surface may have a friction covering such as leather to provide a gripping and driving effect as the tins are transferred.

The tin conveyor 46 is provided with inner and outer fences 55, 56, the inner terminating short of the rotary table 48 Iwhile the outer fence is extended beyond the terminal wheels of the chains 46 to control the tail of the set of tins and prevent it slewing round when the influence of the table overcomes the influence of the chain c'onveyors 46. The fence terminates at a position such thatthe middle tin of the set is substantially radial to the table when the tailing tin leaves the end of the fence-56.

The tin conveyor il is also provided with side fences 5l, 58 the inner of which 5l extends about halfway across the rotary table 43 andvacts as a plough against which the tins abut during their transference from the rotary table i3 to the conveyor fil. The outer fence 58 extends beyond the conveyor terminal wheels and has its end 56 outwardly splayed for directing the leading edge of a tin set inwardly should the tins have become dislodged on the table. instead of the fence El extending over the table a belt conveyor operating upon vertical axis terminal rolls may be provided to impart a positive drive to theleading edge of the tins.

The chains 46 and 41 run on supporting plates 60, 6l which may be extended up to the periphery of the rotary table 4B as shown.

At the upper end of the shaft 49 a boss 52 is provided which forms an abutment preventing the tins crossing the rotary axis of the table.

The conveyors 46, 41 are conveniently driven from a shaft 63 having a gear 64 meshing with a broad gear 65. The gear 65 in turn meshes with another broad gear 66 which meshes with a gear 6l on an aligned shaft 68. The shafts 63 and 68 are provided `with sprockets driving the respective conveyor chains 46 and 4l.

In operation, tins on the conveyor 46, after receiving the dough are fed on to the rotary table f1.8, the trailing tin of a set being maintained in abutting relation with the fence 56 until the set is uniformly placed on the rotary table with the vmiddle tin substantially radial with respect to the engagement causes the set of tins to be positioned substantially parallel with the conveyor as the reference to conveyors that are in the same ver` tins arepushed on to the conveyor by the. driving action of the table.

It will be noted that by the control of the tins through the fence 56 as they are transferred to` the fence 56 will be extended a distance sufficient to resist the rotary thrust of the table until the tins are well placed on the table without any sub,n stantial overhang of the tin or tins.

To aid in the transfer of the tins to the rotary table, particularly when dealing with single tins,

the end portion 0f the fence 56 may be replaced by a positive driving means such as a band conveyor mounted upon vertical aXis end rolls.

According to a further modification, see Figures 7 and 8, the conveyors 1D, 1| are arranged side by side in the same horizontal plane and may comprise chains 12 to which slats 13 are secured.

A t the point of transfer a cranked trigger arm 14 extends across the conveyor 1l!A in the path of the tins. The trigger arm is secured to a shaft 15 which also carries an arm 9D the lower end of which is provided with a catch 16 adapted to lie in the path of a detent 11 carried by a rotary drum 18.

TheA drum is adapted to be rotated by friction driving means comprising a continuously rotating disc 19 keyed tothe shaft 8.8 and spring pressed into engagement with a disc 8| secured to the boss 82,` of the drum 18. The discs 19y and 8| are provided With suitable` friction surfaces.

The drum 18r is provided with a cam face 8| with which a roll 82 engages. The roll is mounted on an arm 84 secured to the rock shaft 85- The rock shaft 85 also carries an oscillating pusher arm 86 which is adapted to'move transversely of the conveyors and push the tins from the oo nveyor 10 on to the conveyor 1 I The pusher arm 86 is provided with a T-piece 81 lying parallel to the path of the conveyor. The form of the arm 86 may b e such that its weight provides a bias tending to rotate it clockwise as seen in Figure 7, or a spring may be provided for this purpose.

A fence 881s provided between the conveyors and atr the pointfof transfer this is c ut away to provide a ramp, 88 for lifting the tin being transferred and avoid it catching on the edge of the conveyor 1|.

It will be appreciated that with this form of the inventionl the transfer of tins may occur at any predetermined point of the conveyors and not necessarily attheends thereof.

In operation, asa tin is advanced by the con-A veyor 10 it engages the trigger arm 14 and rocks the shaft 90 thus removing the catch 16 and releasing the drum 18. The latter immediately rotates by theslip friction drive 19 and 8| and by the cam 8j causes the shaft 85 to rotate thus pivoting the pusher arm 86 which engages the tin by the T head 8 1 vand transfers the'tin over the ramp 88` and on to the -conveyor 1|. During the transf/er movement the tin is guided by the trigger arm.

After the tin has been transferredthe trigger arm 14. returns to its initial position with the catch 16I in the 4path ef the detent 11 whereby the rotation of the drum is; stopped at the end of one revolution thereof. This returns the pusher arm to its position laterally of the conveyor 1|). The return movement of the trigger arm may be effected by a returning spring Aor by gravity.

I claim:

In the manufacture of tin bread, a pair of tin conveyors having conveying laps arranged side by side, means for imparting continuous movements to the conveyors so that said laps move in opposite directions, a rock shaft mounted on an axis parallel to the direction of travel of said conveyors, a pusher arm secured to said rock shaft and having a part movable in a path across the conveyor for transferring a tin from one conveyor to the other, a rotary cam, aA rocker arm on said shaft and engaging the cam, slip friction means for intermittently driving the cam, a detent on said cam, a catch normally engaging the datent to prevent rotation of the cam, a trigger controlling said catch and located in the path of the tins on the conveyor from which the transfer is to take place, said trigger automatically removing said catch when a tin arrives in the transfer position and engages said trigger.

LAURENCE SEYMOUR I-IARBER. 

